Debate about budget allowances and executive appointments lasted long into the night Wednesday during the last Student Government Senate meeting of the semester.
At press time, the SG budget had not yet been approved, but SG President Chris Odinet and Vice President Christen Heaton expressed support for Senate members to remove the last BlackBerry funded within the budget. Heaton also questioned a senator’s decision to spend more than $1,200 on food for two SG meetings.
Debate during Committee on Finance meetings earlier this week prompted several changes within the student fee-funded budget related to BlackBerry funding. After student body scrutiny, the committee reduced the BlackBerry allotment from four to one.
But Heaton addressed the Senate during executive officer reports and asked senators to vote to amend the budget and eliminate the sole remaining BlackBerry.
“Thank you, senators, for helping us to make the right decision and therefore not allocating any money towards BlackBerries, including the one that approved last night for the executive branch’s 24 hour response,” Heaton said.
Odinet told The Daily Reveille that student concern prompted the executive office to change its stance on the issue.
During her speech, Heaton also criticized the Senate’s $1,243.87 purchase of food for the last two Senate meetings of the semester.
“The executive branch would like to question the senators who felt that a good use of all students money was in the food that was purchased last senate meeting for $557.94 and the food at tonight’s senate meeting for $685.93,” Heaton said.
According to an LSU Catering receipt, Arts and Sciences Senator Heath Hattaway was the “person in charge” of the purchase.
Hattaway, who at press time said he planned to offer an amendment regarding SG food purchases, said former Speaker of the Senate Bo Staples and current Speaker of the Senate Evan Bergeron approved the purchases.
“I can’t spend money out of contingency,” Hattaway said. “I don’t have that authority.”
Hattaway said his proposed amendment would require certain rules to be followed to allow SG food purchases.
“I’m offering an amendment to prohibit SG from spending money to buy food on events hosted by Student Government that are not open to the public,” Hattaway said.
But Heaton questioned the withdrawing of funds from the contingency as a responsible use of student fees.
“Therefore let me ask you, the Senate, the same question that you asked members of the executive branch,” Heaton said. “Was this a necessary use and expenditure of student fees?”
At press time, Senate members had approved all of Odinet’s executive appointments, with 10 left to be approved. The Senate also approved all new Senate leadership by approving committee chairs and vice chairs.
After executive appointments, budget approval was still left to be debated.
Also on Wednesday, University Court members elected Matthew Butler, political science senior, as U-Court chief justice in a 6-1 vote.
Butler said his three-semester experience with the U-Court qualifies him for the position.
“I have the experience and know-how to uphold the integrity of the University Court,” Butler said. “I want to bring my passion for efficient government to the judicial branch.”
 
Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]